Lift truck with extendable and retractable load supporting means



R. JOHNS LIFT TRUCK WITH EXTENDABLE AND RETRACTABLE LOAD Dec. 23., 1969 //v vE/v 7-02 kfiy/wo/va JOHNS YSUPPORTING MEANS Filed Mach 4, 1968 United States Patent US. Cl. 21475 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A battery operated lift vehicle having a pair of forks which can lift two pallets at the same time to either a low, intermediate or high level, and the forks being retractable beneath the body of the machine.

This invention relates generally to fork lift trucks.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a fork lift truck for use in warehouse work such as by grocery chains, for the purpose of lifting pallets.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fork lift truck having a pair of platforms, each with its own lift fork so to provide means for lifting two pallets at once.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fork lift truck which is battery operated, and wherein the platforms are retractable beneath the main body of the machine, when not in use.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a fork lift truck wherein the pallets may be selectively raised to a low level, an intermediate level or a high level independently.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a time saver electric lift which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the present invention shown in operative use.

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view thereof, and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the control unit of the present device.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a time saver electric lift according to the present invention, wherein there is a main body 11 supported upon a plurality of Wheels 12. A pair of platforms 13 extend in parallel relationship to each other upon the underside of the vehicle body 11.

Each of the platforms 13 is retractable below the body 11 when not in use. Such movement may be accomplished by means of hydraulic cylinders wherein the oil flow is directed by means of oil pumps that are electrically controlled.

In the present invention, the body 11 provides means for containing electric storage batteries which would be used to provide driving power to an engine for turning the wheels 12 so that the vehicle may travel either in a forwardly or a rearwardly direction.

Each of the platforms 13 is provided with a fork 14 upon the upper side thereof, each of the forks being vertically moveable upwardly from the platform along a mast 15, the mechanism for moving the fork vertically comprising also a hydraulic cylinder and piston through which oil circulates by means of an electrically driven pump, now shown. The platforms 13 are provided with a recess which receive the forks 14 therein, as shown in FIGURE 1, when the forks are in a lowered position.

The present invention further includes a steering column 16 having sidewardly extending handle bars 17 at its upper end which may be manually controlled so that the device may travel in any selected direction forwardly or rearwardly.

Upon the steering column, there is positioned a control unit 18 that can be manually operated so that the machine can perform various tasks. As shown in FIG- URE 3 of the drawing, it is to be noted that the unit 18 includes a control panel 19 upon its upper side and a control panel 20 upon one of the vertical sides, each of the panels providing a control means for performing various tasks, thus the control panel 19 includes a plurality of push buttons 21 each of which is designated with text indicating the nature of the work that the same controls. Likewise, the control panel 20 is provided with a plurality of push buttons 22, each of which is identified with text 23 indicating the various tasks that the machine may perform. Thus, for example the push button 22a and 22b provide a means for controlling the forward and rearward travel of the platform 13.

It is to be noted that a roller 23 is mounted upon the rear of each platform 13 for the purpose of supporting the same when in operative use, supporting a load of freight.

In operative use, means may be provided for an operator to ride upon the vehicle and control the handle bars 17 as well as the control unit 18. It is to be noted that the fork may be used either as a pallet, a straddle or counter-balance, depending upon the nature of the work being performed by the machine. It is to be further noted that the fork may be used with or without the wheels upon the underside of the platform thereof.

Thus there has been shown an improved time saver electric lift which is particularly adaptable for warehouse use, such as by grocery chains and wherein the machine may be used for lifting two pallets at once.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction, it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as is defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a lift truck, the combination of a frame including a main body portion, said body portion including means defining a housing for the power source for the operating mechanisms of the truck, a plurality of wheel means attached to said main body portion to support said main body for movement along a supporting surface, a vertically upstanding mast attached to said main body portion, a pair of parallel laterally spaced elongated platforms, recess means located in the top surface of each of said platforms, roller means mounted on the outer end of and below each of said platforms, means supporting and slidably mounting the opposite end of said platforms to the main body portion of said truck for movement of said platforms relative to said main body portion and mast, a fork carriage mounted on said mast for vertical movement thereon, a pair of laterally spaced parallel forks, means mounting said forks on said carriage in a position wherein each fork is directly over a respective one of said recesses in said platforms when said platforms are in an extended position relative to said. mast and main body portion of said truck, means for moving said forks into and out of said recesses whereby the weight of a load supported on said forks can be transferred to said platforms or vice versa as a result of the forks moving into or out of said recesses.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said truck includes a steering means, control means mounted on said steering means for selectively actuating said platforms and said fork carriage.

3 3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said control means comprises a plurality of control panels, each of said panels including a plurality of push buttons designated to selectively control the said operating mechanisms of the lift truck.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,320,601 6/1943 Howell 214670 XR 2,598,865 6/1952 Turner 214731 10 2,985,828 5/1961 Fitch 214-731 3,258,145 6/1966 Costello 214 750 FOREIGN PATENTS 559,269 3/1957 Italy. 751,269 6/1956 Great Britain.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner R. B. JOHNSON, Assistant Examiner 

